Variable speed feed mechanism



Dee.v 15, 1942."- l L J.-ADRSEN TAL Y f' 2,305,128

' f VARIABLE ySPEEDman MECHANSM v y' md om". sf.' 1939 sksngexs-snget 1 y De- 1'5, 1942- l A l.. J.' ANDRESEN Erm. 2,305,128

v VARIABLE SPEED FEED MECHANISM Y Filed oct. 6, 1939 A 5 sheets-snee; :s

Y Y f Y OWG/2? Pese/ 'Deck l5, 1942.' l L. J, ANDRESEN xzwu. 2,305,128 VARIABLE SPEED FBED'MECHANISM Filed oet. s, 193s s sums-smet 4 F9# f n 1 A @Wim/ De@ 15,119.42. Y l. J. ANDRESEN ETAL 2,305,123 VARIABLE SPEED FEED MEHANI'sM l Y vFilgl oct, 6,'. 1193s. 5 sheds-sheet s' Q y 'In 4 am!! I stantially on the line 2'-`2 of Fig. 1.

Patented Dec. 1,5, 1942 VARIABLE SPEED FEED MECHANISM Lorenz J. Andresen and Willard E. Gerbing, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Combustion Engineering Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 6, 1939, Serial No. .298,232j

s claims. (c1. 74-42i '4 This invention relates'to a new and improved variable speed feed mechanism,` more particularly to an improved means for driving at a slow but adjustable speed a rotary feeder for introduc- -ing material to be ground from a hopper into a mill.

It is well known in the art to provide .a feed mechanism mounted at the side of a mill and communicating with an opening in the mill wall,-

said feed mechanism comprising a hopper into which the material to be ground is introduced, anda pocketed feeder which rotates slowly so as to introduce the material in measured quantities into the mill. This rotary feeder is driven from a small rotary motor (or other equivalent driving mechanism) through suitable speed reduction and speed-varying mechanism. According to the .present invention, this mechanism comprises a substantially constant speed rotary drive shaft, and a driven shaft that is o'scillated through an angle that may be variedv from zero Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through a portion of the feeder mechanism, this view Vbeingv taken substantially onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the feedershaft drive mechanism, showing more particularly one of the releasing clutches.

Fig. 5 is a'central longitudinal section through the clutch mechanism, this view-being taken sub stantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. v6 is a transverse `vertical section taken 'Y v substantially on the line 6`6 of Fig..5.

Fig.'7 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section through the variable speed mechanism, this to a certain predetermined maximum number of degrees, there being a certain improved crank` view beingftaken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1'.

Fig, 8 is a transverse vertical section, on a somewhat smaller scale, taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Figs.l 9 and 10 are similar transverse vertical sections, each taken' substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 shows the mechanism adjusted for the maximum throw or swinging movement of the driven shaft, whereas Fig. 10 shows thesame mechanism adjusted for the minimum or zero movement of the driven shaft.

Referring first more particularly to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the feeder casing vindicated generally at I is secured to the side of the mill housing.

va fragment of which is indicatedat 2 in Fig. 1,

and material introduced into the open hopper 3 at the top of the feeder is delivered, by means of the rotary feed mechanism hereinafter de- Another object is to provide an improved form n of variable speed drive mechanism. y

Another object is to provide an improved form at `I and 1 in the end Dlugs' and 8 of housing of releasable drive mechanism for the rotary ,Y

feeder shaft.

Another object is to provide an improved form 'of lubricating means for the variable speed syser and drive mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same assembly, on a somewhat smaller scale, the feeder mechanism being shown in vertical section subfeeder,l a slide valve 4 and a swinging safety or release damper 5 (Fig. 3) are used to control the flow of'material through the feeder. A horizontally extending rotarydriven shaft 6, journaled I, carries the rotary feeder consisting of a central spider 9 to vwhich are secured a series of radially projecting paddles I0 revolving around the fixed central cylindrical members II and IJ extending inwardly from plugs `8 and 8' and abutting the spider 9 attheir inner ends so that the material will be engaged in-.thepockets I2 between successive paddlesv I0' and directed from the hopper into the mill.

One 'outwardly projecting end portion I3 of shaft 6 carries a nxedly attached hand wheel Il by means of which the rotary feeder can be manually'rotated. A pair of one-way or free-wheeling clutches indicated generally at I5 and I6 are mounted on` the shaft portion I3, and secured to and oscillating with the outer portion of each clutch device is a friction disk I'I. Anoperating A t' of which is mounted the nut zz fromwhioh extends the releasing handle 23. Normally, the handle 23 willbe swung in such a direction as to clamp the respective membersy I9 and 28 against opposite sides of disk I1 and thussecure the operating crank I8 to the outer portion of clutch I6. Under these conditions, when crank I8 is swung in .one direction vthe clutch will cause shaft I3 to swing in the saine direction, whereas the clutch" will release and permit free movement of crank I8 in/the opposite direction. Any suitable type of,l free-wheeling clutch can be used. A clutch of the ball or cam type'is preferable to a. ratchet or other one-way positive clutch.

An exactly similar mechanism is connected with the other clutch member |5, {but this crank lmechanism projects in the opposite radial direction from crank I8, and, as already stated, clutch l 5 grips shaft I3 when rotated in theV opposite direction from clutch I6. Consequently, on the upstroke or when both cranks |8 areraised, one of these will be operatively connected with shaft I 3 and rotate it in a certain direction, for example clockwise, while the other crank will` be free.' On the downstroke when bothfcranks I8 are lowered the other crank will be operatively connected lwith the shaft so as to continue the same clockwise direction of shaft la. A pair of similar iiriirs 24 connect the respective cranks I8 with the crank 25 secured on the outer end portion of the oscillatory driven shaft 26 which forms a portion of the variable-speed mechanism as hereafter described. The oscillation of shaft 23 and conse' quently of crank 25 (as shown in dotted lines Fig. 1) will therefore cause a substantially continuous but slow rotating movement of the feeder shafty 6- If, at any time, the feeder should become formed with an arcuatesiot 45 through which projects the threaded stem 48 on* which isjmounted a locking nut 41 provided with handle 48. A spring 41' is interposed vrbetween nut 41 and a washer 48 bearing frictionally on sector 44. Nut 41 will be tightened by handle 48 until the pressure of compressed springr 41`is sufficient to hold sector plate '44 and shaft 42.-in any position to which they are moved by adjusting lever 43.

A fixed pointer 49 cooperates with the arcuate dial-plate 5U. When the adjusting mechanism. just described', is in the position shown in Fig. 1

with the pointer 49 opposite the indication 10 jammed, the releasing levers 23 can be quickly turned in such a; direction as to release the clutch members and permit the feeder shaft 6 to be rotated freely in either direction by means of the vmanual hand wheel I4. Or, obviously, this will permit the` feeder mechanism to remain station- 'ary while the driving mechanism continuesto operate. Y

means of bolts 28 on a supporting plate 29 pivotally suspended at 30 from a/ bracket member 3| extending downwardly from the base plate 32 of the feeder assembly. The motor-driven pulley 33 is connected through belt 34 with pulley 35 ,on0 the end of the worm-shaft 36. -The screwbolt 3|' mounted in bracket 3| is adapted to engage. the pivoted supporting plate 29 4and swing the motor assembly outwardlyor toward the right (Fig. 2) so as to tighten the belt 34. i ,1"

'I'he worm/#shaft 36 is journaled/in the upper portion of the gear casing 31 mounted on one end "of the housing 38 which Iencloses the variableY speed mechanism, said housing being supported by bolts 39 from/the under face of base plate 32 of the feeder mechanism. An opening in -the other end of housing 38 is closed byfa cover plate.

4D leld in place by bolts 4|, and an adjusting shaft 42 is journaled in this cover plate (see Fig.

1.). An adjusting lever 43 is secured to a sectorshaped locking and indicating plate 44 fixedly on the dial, the operating throw of crank 25.l will be the maximum, and theifrniaximum rate of,

rotation will be imparted to the rotary-driven shaft 6 of the feeder. When adjusting lever 4,3 is swung in a clockwise direction so that the dial indication 0 is moved opposite the pointer 49. then there will be no operative throw of crank 25 (that is the shaft 26 willl be -stationary and will not oscillate) and there will be no movement imparted to the feeder-shaft 6. As the adjusting lever 43 is moved to any intermediate position, an intermediate arcuate thr-ow or oscillation will be imparted to the shaft 26 and arm 25, and the feeder shaft B Will'be rotated at some interme. diate speed. 'I'he adjusting lever 43 may be moved 'by any suitable automaticI control mech-r anism connected at 43 to the outer end position of the lever. When this automatic control is `used the lock-nut 41 will beturned swinging thel handle 48 to relieve the pressure of spring 41 and render the friction-lock ineffective. d The variable speed mechanism within housings '31 and 38 will now be described, referring more particularly to Figs.' 7 to l0 inclusive. The' worm-shaft 36 is provided with vworm 5| which meshes with the worm wheel 52 keyed at 53 on the main rotary drive-shaft 54 journaled in the roller-bearings 55 and 55 mounted in gear casing 31. One end portion of'shaft 5 4 projects through end wall 51 and packing device 58 separating gear casing 31 from housing and carries the drum 59 which nts snugly but"rotatablyfwithin the sleeve or bushing 68 mounted within the hollow cylindrical frame member 5|. Substantially the 'lower half vof housing 38..will be filled with a bath of oil, conveniently introduced through the 4inlet 62 closed by plug83,.(Figs. 1 and 2). f The The driving motor 21 (Fig. 2) is mounted by i011 level can be Observed through .Sight glass 63* drum rotates in such awdirection that this groove will tend to draw or pump oil inwardly toward the central portionof the drum. YA similar spiral groove (but of opposite pitch) atth'e other end of the drum tends to return most of vthis oil f l i in tl/ie opposite direction so that the oil will be iorced'out through port 65 into a passage 61 formed in the cylindrical 'frame member 6|. A .r

branch passage 68 leads from passage 61 to a mounted on the outer end of adiusting shaft 42 75 tube orxeonduit 69 from which extend one or more branch conduits 18, these conduits having singularly projecting end portions 11| and 12 respectively so that theoil will be discharged over certain yoi the upwardly projecting pivotal connections of the crank and link membershereinafter described. It will be apparent that this lubricating mechanism will operate continuously, as long as the driving shaft 54 and drum 59 are rotated in the proper direction. v

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, the adjustable fulcrum member 13 has a collar portion 14 journaled on the cylindrical frame member 6| between the '.side `iianges15 and 16, this fulcrum member 18carrying in its outer end portion the horizontally extending fulcrum pin 11.

The adjusting shaft'42 (already described) prov kjects into the housing 38 and is journaled` in the f tubular bearing 18 projecting inwardly fromA cover plate 40. Onthe inner end portionof shaft 42 is secured, by means of clamping collar.

19, the outwardly projecting crank 80, the outer treme position shown in Fig."9.. :At this time the pivot pin 90 will still swing in an varc extending through the axis a: ofthe driving.shaft,-but this ing gear is desig feed mechanism of the type' ilrstl'desc bed, it will arc will now approach parallelism with the link to the crankarm 9| anddriven-'shaft 26.KI `0bviously, any intermediate.positioning of the ad justing means will, cause the driven shaft to voscillatein a correspondinglysmallerarc. Fu'rtherf` f more, the amplitude of' swinging movement' of' driven shaft 26 and crank arm,25. thereoniFig.

1) will determine'the magnitude of movement of the links 24 and lcrank arms [I8 and consequently the speed offrotation of Eth'edriven speed shaft 6.' ,f j W f While this iniprovedivariablespefed andi-educned especially for usev ith amillbe obvious that it could beguse'd in a similan manner for driving other typesT ofxnechianism.

of generally triangular shape and best shownin'Fig. ,9, is joumaled on theffulcrum pin 11'. A crank-pin 86 projecting eccentrically from the exposed inner lend of Adrum 59 on driving-shaft 54, is'journaled lthrough ball bearing 81 in the upper end of a link or pitman 88 the other end of which is connected by pivot pin 89 with alat-l driving shaftfmeans for rotating.v the Adriving shaft 'at a substantially constant speedjadrivenA vshaft adaptedA tobe oscillated-through an arc varying from zero degrees to .a p edetermined maximum,a crank xed on the riven'shafty erally projecting intermediate corner portionof the triangular-shaped power-transmitting lever 485. .It will thus be seien that as crank pin 86` is revolvedaround the axis .1: of shaftl 54, the ,ref vsulting reciprocating movementof link or pitman 88 will cause the power-transmitting lever 85 to swing about the fulcrum-pin 11, and this swinging movement willbe the same and of Vthe same amplitude regardless'ofv the position to which fulcrum-pin 11 is adjusted around the axis vof krotation v:c of` drive shaft 54. A pivot pin-90 ini/the opposite end portion ofswinging lever 85' is sopositioned that the distance between the. n

centralaxes of pins 11 and 9'0fi`sj1the same as ;the

x and means for,

distance between thev central axis of pin 11 and the axis a: of the driving shaft, and as a conse-" i quence the pin 90 will always beswung through anvlarc extending through the driving axis :n.fasf

indicated by the dotted arcuate lines in Figs.'

9v and 10.

A -crank 9| is secured by means of clamping f collar 921m the inner end portionof the driven vshaft 28 (already described). A link 93 is pivotally connected at one end through pivot pin 94. with the'outer e/nd oi' crank -8|,`,andvis pivotally connected at the other end with. power transmitting lever.85 through the pivot pin 90. The

length of link 93 between the.;v central. axes of pivot pins 90 and'94 is the same as the distance Ibetweenithe axis of fulcrum pin 11 and the central axis' :z: of the driving shaft.' As a, consequence, when the fulcrum pin 11 is ,moved to the /postion indicated in fFig. 10 the axes of fulcrum y pin 11 and pivot pin 94 will coincide or be in alignment. In consequencathe axis of pivotpin 90 will not only swing in an arc/through thev axis 1:, but will also swing about/.the axis'o'f pin ,94 as a center and no movement/whateverfwill be Weclaim: I. f ,i 1. A variable speed mechanism- "omprising a .fulcrum-member pivoted about theaxis ofthe driving shaft and carryingfa fulcrn'i-{pin4 spaced 93 so that this link. will be moved ylongitudinallyv o and will impart a maximum swinging movement 1 from the axis, a power-transmitting-lever pivoted g on the fulcrum-pim'means connecting th'edrivi ing y'shaft and lever for oscillating. the lever through a predetermined arc as the shaft is rotated, a link pivotaliy connectedyat one end'to the driven crank and pivotally connected atvits otherv end to'the power-transmitting lever at avr point that swingsthrough the axis of' the driving shaft, the distance between the-itwo'endaxes of the linkbeing the'same 'as thefdistance between the axes of thefulcrum-pin' andthe driving shaft,

adjusting the fulcrum member about the axis of the drivingy shaft -froma minimum drive position when the' axis ofthe fulcrum theY driven crank and link to a maximum drive position wheny these last mentioned axes are most .remote fromoneanother, i

2. Afvariablelspeed mechanism comprising a drivingfshaft, frinea'ns'l for rotating the driving f f' shaft at a substantially'constant speed, a` drivenv shaft adaptedto be oscillated throughan arc varying fromr zero degreesA to"alprdetermined maximum, a crank fixed on the driven Ashaftfayfulcrum,member pivoted about the axis ofthe I -driving'shaft andfcarryingafulcrum-pin spaced 'from the axis, a power-transmitting'lever,plvk

Y'pin coincides with the axis of connection between' K oted-on the fulcrum-'pimmeans connecting .the .f

driving shaft and lever r{foro'scillating `thelevery through a predetermined varc as the shaft 4is ro`- l` rtated, said means" comprising afcrank-'pin on the 'driving shaft rand a, link connecting this `pin with a v from' the fulcrum-pin, a link pivotally'connected impartedto the crank arm 9| land driven shaft 26. This" will be the loperation when the adjust- 'ing lever 43 is lmoved to its lower extreme `posif tion so vthat pointer 49 is opposite the. character v if adjusting lever '48 ,is moved tothe extreme vpo.- v sition shown'in Fig. 1 with the pointer v49 opvy posite thenumeral-l on the dial, then the fulcrum pin11 will be moved to the other ex- -,at` one end connected at'its other end to the'power-trans-Q mttinglever at 'a'point ythat Aswings through .the axis of the driving shaft', ythe distance between a point on the power-transmittingleverfspaced to the driven, crank and pivotally y the two end axes of the linkl being thesame as ,"0 on dial 50 (see Fig. 1,1) On the other hand,`

the distance between the ,axes of the fulcruml'pin and.: the drivingfshaft, and means for adjusty 'y ing ythe fulcrum member about. the axis of' the driving shaft from a minimum drive p ition when the axis ofthe fulcrum-pin coincides with.,

theaxis of connection between thedriven crank 'another'.

and linkto a. last mentioned axes are most remote from one maximum drive position when these A,

3. A variable mechanism comprising a on the ful'crum-pin,means connecting the driving shaftv and lever for oscillating the lever through a predetermined arc as the shaft is rotated, a'link pivotally connected a one lend to the drivenl crank and'pivotally connected at its other end to the power-transmitting lever r`at a. point that swings through the axis of the driving shaft, the distance between the two end axes of the link being the same as the distance between the axes of the fulcrum-pinand the drivingshaft, means for adjusting the fulcrum-member about the axis of the driving shaft from a minimum drive positionwhen the axis of the fulcrum-pin coincides with the axis of 'connection between the driven crank and link to a maximum drive position when these last mentioned axes are most remote from one another, said last mentioned means comprising an oscillating shaft, an adjusting lever for swinging this shaft,means for locking said lever in selected positions of adjustment, a crank on the shaft, and a link connecting this crank with a portionof the4 fulcrum-member.

f1. A variable speed mechanism comprising a drivingshaft rotating ata substantially constant speed, a driven member adapted to be oscillated v fulcrum memberat a point spaced from the axis through an arc variable from a minimum to ai' maximum amplitude,` a crank fixed on the driv- -en member, a fulcrum-member pivoted about the axis of the driving shaft,fa power-transmitting lever; a fulcrum-pin for pivoting the lever on the fulcrum member at apoint spaced from the axis of the driving shaft, means connecting the driving shaft and power-transmitting lever for oscillating the lever through a predetermined "arc as theshaft is rotated, a link pivotally conen member is a minimum to a position where this a`rc is a maximum.

, ,5.`A variable speed'mechanism comprising a driving shaft rotating at a substantially constant speed, a driven member adaptedfto be oscillated through 'an arc` variable from a minimum to'a maximum amplitude, a crank fixed on the driven member, a fulcrum-memberpivoted about the axis of the driving shaft, a power-transmitting lever, a fulcrum-pin for pivoting the leveron the of the driving shafts means connecting the driving ,shaft and power-transmitting lever for oscillating the lever through a predetermined arc as the shaft is rotated, a` link pivotally connectedy at one end to the driven crank and pivotally connected at its other end to the power-transmitting lever at a point that swings through an arc extending through the axis of the driving shaft, and, means for adjusting the fulcrm-member about the axis of the driving shaftfrom. a minimum drive position when the path of movement of the/pivotal connection between the lever and link mostnearly at right-angles to the longitudinal centerline of the link toa maximum drive position wheresaid path is most nearly par allel with said center line.

LORENZ J. fANDREsEN. WILLARD E. GERBING.k 

